The Pleasure Diet: How slowly can you eat a raisin?

Today I learned, courtesy of my new mindful eating guru Jean Kristeller, that it's possible to make a teeny-tiny raisin last three minutes before swallowing it. She had me observe a homely raisin closely, sniff it, then pop it in...

Today I learned, courtesy of my new mindful eating guru Jean Kristeller, that it's possible to make a teeny-tiny raisin last three minutes before swallowing it. She had me observe a homely raisin closely, sniff it, then pop it in my mouth and experience the texture, the taste, the waxing and waning flavor, in order to see how eating something slowly and mindfully can change the way we think about food. What I discovered:

When you eat raisins one at a time (rather than throw 20 in your mouth at once), you’re more aware of the flavor, more appreciative of just how much flavor one can derive from a lowly raisin. After eating just three raisins this way, I realized I didn’t want any more–I’d had my fill of the wrinkled things and could stop without feeling deprived, which is what the Pleasure Diet is all about. Wonder if the technique would work with ice cream? Could I ever be happy with just one bite of my all-time fave, Ben and Jerry’s peanut butter cup? No doubt I’ll find out, since I’m supposed to be practicing this technique from now on.